Game time indicator



May 4, 1937. E. E. FOSTER u GAME TIME INDICATOR Filed June 18, 1935 Patented May 4, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

An object of my invention is to provide a time indicator for games such as basketball and the like, which is simple, durable and inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object is to provide a combination of a playing period timing device and a time-out timing device, these two devices being so controlled that when one is in operation the other is out of operation, and vice Versa.

A further object is to provide manual control means for causing selective operation of the timing device and to further provide automatic means to signal the end of a predetermined period indicated by one of the timing devices.

Still another object is to provide electrically operated timing devices and a manual switch for switching from one to the other, one of the timing devices operable to automatically throw the switch from one position to the other after a predetermined period of operation of the one timing device.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of my complete apparatus for time indicating of basket ball games and the like.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the control mechanism for the timing device.

Figure 3 is an enlarged, partial View of the central portion of Figure 2 to partly illustrate the coaction of certain parts of the apparatus.

Figure 4 is a sectional View on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 showing a signal switch in operative position.

Figure 5 is a similar view showing it in inoperative or normal position.

Figure 6 is an electroediagrammatic view of the wiring system for the apparatus.

On the accompanying drawing, I haveused the reference character A to indicate a timing device. I provide two other timing devices indicated at A and B. The timing devices A and A are synchronized and operate simultaneously. The timing device B is arranged to operate only when the timing devices A and A are not operating.

'Ihe timing devices A and A as shown on the drawing are especially designed for time indicating in basketball games in which the quarthe ters vor play periods are each eight minutes long.

It will be noted that the dials of these timing devices are numbered counter-clockwise. The hands I0 andk I0', however, travel clockwise so that the numerals l to 8 indicate the number 5 of minutes left rather than the number of minutes that have been played.

The timing device B is for indicating time-out periods. The device B can be numbered in any manner desired such as in minutes from 1 to 10 l0 as illustrated in Figure 1, the minute hand being indicated by the reference numeral II.

All of the dials of the various timing devices are preferably provided with second marks and the timing devices themselves are provided with second hands I2, I 2 and I4 respectively.

Forr controlling the operation of the timing devices, I provide a novel switch arrangement shown in Figures 2 and 3. It comprises a double throw switch, the switch arm of which is indicated at I6. The switch arm is adapted to contact with either a Contact I8 or a contact 20. It is urged by a spring 22 to engage the contact 20 but can be made to engage the contact I8 by manually lifting a toggle lever 24. When in the lifted position, a latch 26 is caused by the spring 22 to engage behind a latch lug 28 of the switch arm I6 so that thereafter the switch arm will remain in engagement with the contact I8 until the latch 26 is released. 30

For releasing the latch 26 I provide a push button 30 and an electro-magnet 32. The push button is manually operable and the magnet 32 is automatically energized by a signal switch which will later be described. When the electro-magnet 32 is energized it attracts an armature 34 of the latch 26 to swing it to the dotted line position of Figures 2 and 3 whereupon the switch arm I6 will swing to its dotted position.

The signal switch just referred to is shown in Figure 4. The timing device A includes a gear 36 driven by a clock work mechanism 38 which mechanism is preferably a synchronous electric motor.

The gear 36 is connected to a shaft 40 which operates the second hand I2 while a second gear 42 through a sleeve 44 operates the minute hand Ill. The two gears are connected together by an idler gear 46.

The gears 36, 42 are provid-ed with depressions 48 and 5D adapted to register with and receive lugs 52 and 54 on a switch arm 56. The switch arm carries a contact 58 normally disengaged as in Figure 5 from a second contact 60 which -are suitably mounted. Whenever both depres- 55 sions 48 and 5D register with both lugs 52 and 54 the contacts 58 and B0 are engaged as in Figure 4. The contacts, it will be noted by reference to Figure 6 are in circuit with the electromagnet 32 and with a signal device such as a bell 62, current being supplied to this circuit from a step down transformer 64.

Also included in the circuit of the signal device 62 is a manual switch 66 and an automatic switch. The switch 5E is an ordinary snap or toggle switch while the automatic switch is a thermostatically operated switch comprising a stationary contact 'i3 and a movable contact 12. The movable contact 'i2 is carried by a bimetal element 'i4 and the contacts are in series with a heating element 7S. The heating element after a predetermined period of energization is adapted to Warp the bimetal element 14 to the dotted position of Figure 2 in which position it is then latched by a latch 73.

For unlatching the latch 18 I provide a thrust rod 86 pivoted on the switch arm I6 and slidably mounted in a bracket 82.

The timing devices A and B and the control f. mechanism shown in Figure 2 are preferably mounted in a control casing 84 for the convenience of the time keeper who can have the casing in front of him during the time the game is in progress and control it in accordance with requirernents.

The timing device A is comparatively large and adapted for mounting in a conspicuous place where it may be seen by all interested in the game instead of being observed by the time keeper only. It is therefore obvious that the two timing devices A and A should always be in synchronsm in order to properly record the time. I have provided means for causing synchronisrn in the event that the timing devices A and A should get out of synchronism and comprising a circuit opening switch of the push button type shown at 36 and a circuit closing one shown at 88. I have also provided a circuit closing switch shown at 95 for operating the timing device B independent of the control mechanism shown in Figure 2. On the control panel 84 I also provide a main switch 92 of snap or toggle construction for the purpose of cutting off the current supply to the control device and timing device when it is no longer needed.

Practical operation When the game starts the time keeper raises the lever 24 thus causing the timing devices A and A to be connected in the circuit and disconnecting the timing device B therefrom. This causes the minute hands i0 and l0' to rotate to indicate the remaining minutes in the quarter being played. At any time that time-out is required, the time keeper can press the button 30 and watch the hands Ii and i4 to determine the minutes and seconds of the time-out.

At the end of the time-out period he again raises the lever 24 for causing the timing devices A and A to indicate the remaining minutes of play. Thus the playing period is accurately timed and an accurate indication can be kept of the time out.

Intermediate the time-out periods the time keeper can press the but-ton 90 if he wishes to cause either the second hand or the minute hand to rotate to a predetermined position for more easily keeping an indication of the time out.

Each revolution of the second hand l2 will cause the depression 48 to register with the lug 52 as in Figure 5 but the contacts 58 and 60 will not be closed because the upper surface of the gear 42 will keep the lug 54 raised. When the minute hand l0, however, has rotated one revolution both the depressions 48 and 50 will register with the lugs 52 and 54 as in Figure 4, thus establishing the signal circuit. This will cause the bell 62 to ring, indicating that the play period has been completed.

The time keeper can then open the switch 66 i if he desires to stop the bell from ringing or can allow it to ring until the bimetal element 14 has warped to the dotted position of Figure 2, whereupon the latch 18 will be raised by a spring 19 to retain the contacts 10 and 'l2 open. The rod 80 will permit such raising since simultaneously with the energization of the bell 52 the electromagnet 32 is also energized for tripping the switch arm I 6 to its dotted position.

Subsequently when the lever 24 is again raised the latch 18 may be unlatched so that the automatic switch including the bimetal element 14 will be in position to operate the next time the contacts 58 and 60 close.

My particular arrangement causes the timing device B to operate whenever the devices A and A stop operating, the engagement of the switch contacts 58 and 60 automatically energizing the electro-magnet 32 at the end of the eight minute period.

Whenever the timing devices A and A get out of synchronism, they can be 1re-synchronized in the following mannen- If the device A is ahead of the device A the switch 92 can be opened, whereupon the switch fl- 88 can be closed to bring the second hand I2 up to the same position as the second hand I2.

If the device A is behind the device A', while the devices A and A are in operation, the button 86 can be pressed for stopping the device A until the device A catches up with it. I have thus made provision for insuring that the time indicated to the players and spectators on the timing device A will be the same as that indicated to the time keeper on the timing device A.

Although I have shown the timing devices A and A synchronized with each other, the timing device A can be entirely eliminated if desired Where a special installation is desired. The signal switch shown in Figures 4 and 5 would then be applied to the timing device A'. It should be noted that the device can be conveniently hooked up to the current supply by merely plugging in a plug 92 in the ordinary manner, all the other circuit connections being made within the device A e and within the casing 84.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modied forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a game time indicator, a pair of timing devices, a iirst one to indicate playing periods of time and a second one to indicate time-out periods, control means for said timing devices operable to cause operation of the first timing device and render the second one inoperative or 'f vice versa and means operated by the first timing device after a predetermined degree of operation thereof to automatically cause the rst timing device to become inoperative and the second one to start operating.

2'. I-n a game time indicator, a pair of electrically operated timing devices, a first one to indicate playing periods of time and a second one to indicate time-out periods, circuit control means for opening the circuit to one of said timing devices and closing it to the other and means for tripping said control means to a position for rendering the rst timing device inoperative and starting operation of the second one after a predetermined period of operation of the rst one.

3. In a game time indicator, a pair of timing devices electrically operated, a first one to indicate playing periods and a second one to indicate time-out periods, a switch manually operable to one position for closing the circuit of and thereby operating said first timing device and simultaneously therewith rendering said second timing device inoperative, a latch to retain said switch in such position, means for releasing said latch after a predetermined period of operation of said rst timing device, said means being electro responsive and controlled by the rst timing device.

4. In a time indicator, a pair of timing devices, a rst one to indicate playing periods of time and a second one to indicate time-out periods, control means for said timing devices operable to cause operation of the first timing device and render the second one inoperative or vice versa, said control means comprising a switch arm manually operable to one position, a latch for retaining it in such position, current responsive means to release said latch and a switch operated by one of said timing devices to energize said current responsive means.

5. In a game time indicator, a pair of timing devices, a first one to indicate playing periods of time and a second one to indicate time-out periods, control means for said timing devices operable to cause operation of the first timing device and render the second one inoperative or vice versa, means operated by the firstv timing device after a predetermined degree of operation thereof to automatically render the first timing device inoperative and the second one operative, a signal and means for operating said signal comprising a pair of movable timing elements in said rst timing device, a depression in each and a signal switch operated by said timing elements and including a switch arm having a lug for each depression, said switch arm normally being in one position and movable to another position only upon both of said lugs being seated in their respective depressions.

6. In a time indicator, a pair of timing devices, a rst one to indicate playing periods of time and a second one to indicate time-out periods,

control means for said timing devices operable tocause operation of the first timing device and render the second one inoperative or vice versa, said control means comprising a switch arm manually operable to one position, a latch for retaining it in such position, current responsive means to release said latch and a switch operated by one of f said timing devices to energize said current responsive means and manual means for releasing said latch at will.

'7. In a game time indicator, a pair of timing devices electrically operated, a rst one to indicate playing periods and a second one to indicate time-out periods, a switch manually operable to one position for closing the circuit of and thereby operating said first timing device and simultaneously therewith opening the circuit of said second timing device to render it inoperative, a latch to retain said' switch in such position, means for releasing said latch after a predetermined period of operation of said first timing device, said means being electro responsive and controlled by the first timing device and means for manually releasing said latch at will.

8. In a game time indicator, a pair of electrically operated timing devices, a first one to indicate playing periods of time and a second one to indicate time-out periods, circuit control means for opening the circuit to one of said timing devices and closing it to the other and means for tripping said control means to a position for rendering the rst timing device inoperative and starting operationy of the second one after a predetermined period of operation of thefirst one, and means for manually tripping said control means to such position.

9. In. a game time indicator, a pair of timing devices alternately operable and means under the control of an operator for causing operation of either of said timing devices while the other one is not operating and for automatically rendering one inoperative and starting the operation of the other after a predetermined period of operation of the one.

10. In a game time indicator, a pair of electrically operated timing devices, a first one to indicate playing periods of time and a second one to indicate time-out periods, circuit control means for opening the circuit to one of said timing devices and closing it to the other and means for tripping said control means to a position for rendering the first timing device inoperative after a predetermined period of operation thereof.

11. In a game time indicator, a pair of timing devices, a first one to indicate playing periods of time and a second one to indicate time-out periods, control means for said timing devices operable to cause operation of the rst timing device and render the second one inoperative or vice versa, a signal and means for operating said signal comprising a pair of movable timing elements in said first timing device, a depression in each and a signal switch operated by said timing elements and including a switch arm having a lug for each depression, said switch arm normally being in one position and movable to another position only upon both of said lugs being seated in their respective depressions.

12. In a game time indicator, a pair of electrically operated timing devices, a rst one to indicate playing periods of time and a second one to indicate time-out periods, circuit control means for opening the circuit to one of said timing devices and closing it to the other and means for tripping said control means to a position for rendering the rst timing device inoperative after a predetermined 4period of operation thereof, said last means including an electro-magnet having a circuit and a controller for said circuit operable to closed circuit position by said rst timer device upon assuming a predetermined position.

ELMER E. FOSTER. 

